[Met Performance] CID:138120



G?tterd?mmerung
Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, December 8, 1944




G?tterd?mmerung (155)
Richard Wagner | Richard Wagner
Br?nnhilde
Helen Traubel

Siegfried
Lauritz Melchior

Gunther
Herbert Janssen

Gutrune
Astrid Varnay

Hagen
Emanuel List

Waltraute
Kerstin Thorborg

Alberich
Frederick Lechner

First Norn
Margaret Harshaw

Second Norn/Wellgunde
Lucielle Browning

Third Norn
Jeanne Palmer

Woglinde
Thelma Votipka

Flosshilde
Hertha Glaz

Vassal
Richard Manning

Vassal
Osie Hawkins


Conductor
George Szell


Director
Lothar Wallerstein

Set Designer
Hans Kautsky





G?tterd?mmerung received four performances this season.

Review 1:

Review of Herbert Peyser in the December 25, 1944 issue of Musical America

'G?tterd?mmerung" had its first performance of the season on the evening of Dec. 8, before the usual crowded house which greets this mightiest of music dramas. Lauritz Melchior was Siegfried and Helen Traubel, Br?nnhilde. Emmanuel List replaced Alexander Kipnis as Hagen; Kerstin Thorborg was Waltraute; Herbert Janssen sang Gunther, and Astrid Varnay, Gutrune. Lesser roles were assumed by Frederick Lechner, Thelma Votipka, Lucielle Browning, Herta Glaz, Margaret Harshaw, Jeanne Palmer, Richard Manning and Osie Hawkins. George Szell conducted.

The performance suffered from unmerciful and inconsiderate cutting as well as some dubious playing by the orchestra, notably the drums and cymbals which were overwhelming. Proceedings seemed a long time getting into pace and more than once during the evening there was a lack of integration which was disturbing. The finical stage-direction continues to be annoying. The destruction of Valhalla at the end was more convincing than it has been in recent years, but the fire took a comparatively short time to consume the very solid looking castle.

The singing of the principals was, for the most part, excellent. Mr. Melchior was in good voice throughout the evening. Mme. Traubel improved as the opera went on, though she has sung the Immolation with greater effect and her acting was less vivid than it might have been. Mr. List did not seem to be in his best voice and the wisdom of some of his positions on the stage is open to question. Mr. Janssen's Gunther was somewhat restrained but vocally good. Miss Varnay's voice has improved but she has adopted a mannerism of only hitting the high spots and letting the volume of her voice diminish in between. Both the Norns and the Rhine Daughters were unimpressive. The chorus of vassals, though lacking in finesse, was sung lustily. Of the three acts, the second was the best. Some of Mr. Szell's conducting was magnificent, some of it less so.



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